Dassain-a reflection on the past moments

Dassain-a reflection on the past moments

When I was a little boy back in the village, there used to be times, life was celebrated with a lot of extra happiness. As Dasaain would approach, usually in September or October, my excitement would gradually rise.

Dassain comes from the sanskirt term Dasha hara and it is called Dussera in proper term. Dasha means devil and Hara means to defeat—therefore a devil called Ravana is said to be defeated by Ram on this day.

 I have two brothers: elder one being about four years older and my youngest one two years smaller. I don’t know how my elder one felt for we rarely interacted while the younger one was just like me.

My mom and dad would take us to Assam bazaar during Saturday after half day holiday to purchase us clothes for dassain. My family had the favorite and permanent kind of tailor who would design our clothes. I would choose for blue colored pants and white striped shirt. My younger brother’s were also almost like mine for he was too small to choose on his own. Later as we grew up, we had a different choice of costume—my brother wanted shaktiman’s dress, six pocket pants and the like.

A week early or so, suits of cloth would be collected and kept in the wooden box—we had a big wooden box built by a local carpenter. When my mom would be away for work, I would silently take  them out and wear. We didn’t have a bigger mirror, then. All we had was a smaller one that would show our face little different—distorted one. This kind of activity would keep on happening every time my mother was away—perhaps I did until I was in class five or so. After a long time, as I would feel so, dassain would come. The eve of dassain used to be the happiest moment in my life: even today eve of any auspicious moment never stops me from being the happiest person.

Vijay dassami /Dassain would come and it was time to wear new suits. Early in the morning I would takee bathe and dress up. Vijay Dassami is the tenth day when Tika (Mixture of yoghurt and rice) is received. My parents would take out new notes of Ngultrum 10 each and give us as DAKSHINA(term for money on that occasion). In those days, 10 Ngultrum was the highest amount of money our father used to give us. It was more than enough for us.

Dasain lasts for five days—it ends in the full moon day—Purnima, with a farewell Tika to the family members. Until, then, from the day one, a hunt for money would start. As my mom spoke would  speak of  going to her relative’s house, I would be really excited and so were by fellow brothers. Before we reached their house, we would start calculating as to how much we would get. Disappointed of receiving ATHANA (50 Chhetrum coin) or one rupee, we would even lose appetite. Due to the frustration, sometimes three of us would go home without waiting for the parents. Such were our days as a child.

Today we are grown up and part of our beliefs and  excitements are fading.